Portable combination desk



30 3,26 5- oom INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-sheaf 1 L. E. MYERS PORTABLE COMBINATION DESK Original Filed March 27, 1918 ATTORNEY April 17, 1928. 1,666,263

| E. MYERS PORTABLE COMBINATION DESK I Original Filed March 27, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

. UNITED TEiS PATENT OFF! CE.

LEWIS E. MYERS, OF'VALP'ARAISO, IN-DIANA. Assumes, BY mnsa-nnssionms, 'ro THE'NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY AND HAROLD 1-1. ROCKWELL, TRUSTEES.

PORTABLE comma-amon- DESK.

Application .filed March 27, 1918, Serial No. 396,569. .Renewed 51117.15, 1920.

My invention relates .to improvements in portable combination desks and its consists more especially of the features pointed out in .theannexed claims.

The purpose of my-invention isto provide such variations of subjects, topics, etc., a.

frameto support the same and a detachable reversible board pivoted .to the frame, the whole constituting an educational'device of superior merit because of 'the close working relation between the board, the frame and the scrolls thus attaining marked educational advantages of a progressive order which have not hitherto been reached with other types of scrolls and'desks; that makes :possible gthe acquisition ofa library of scrolls dealingwith various subjects such askindergarten work, elementary mechanics, elementary electricity, physics, ibotany, astronomy, etc., and advancing studies of zthese, all of, which are adaptable to the=onedesk,-thus broadening the field-of home'education without incurring the cost of additional desks as must be done when only an unchangeable scroll is used; and that increas'es the capacity of the device through the use of a plurality oi scrolls at one time whether printedon one or both sides.

lVith these and other related endsin view I illustrate in the accompanyingdrawings such exemplifications of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features without limiting myself to the specific details instanced therein.

Fig. -1 is a side elevation partly in section of a desk in closedlrelation.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic relation of a supplementary scroll roller to two permanently attached rollers.

Fig.3is a progressivechange, in diagrammatic relation, ofthe rollers shown in Fig. 2 showing a scroll transferred to the lower of the permanent rollers.

Fig. 4 instances a further step in the manipulation showing the re-transfer of a scroll from the permanent to the supplementary roller.

Fig. .5 is'a-side elevation showing one of the pair of usually .made permanent :rollers removable :irom the frame.

Fig. 6 is aside elevation in section showing a removable roller carrying frame ,in which the scroll rollers'have bearing.

Fig. 7 is. a detached view of a removable rplleinand a scroll end inserted in the roller s 0t.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the upper part of the frame shown in Fig. .1.

Fig. 9 isa :front elevation of-an independcnt scroll carrying frame.

Fig. 10.is afront elevation of a desk with permanent scroll rollers.

Fig. 11 isa similar view toiFig. .10 showing a grouping of two 'independentsets of scrolls.

Fig. :12 isan elevation partly in section of a ;releasi ng ro'ller knob.

Fig. 13 is an'end'elevation of a-boardlocking device.

Fig. 14 isaplanview of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15.:is an elevation of adouble printed scroll in Whiclrboth facesare used.

In practically carrying out .my invention any means may the :used-that .will enable one to quicklychange scrolls so as to open :np

other. or related :lines of study in :connection with the reversible board using its one side for writing, sketehingeto, onpaper, or the other side asa black board on which erasable crayonsmay be used while studying the various illustrative or descriptive materials of the scroll. It is of course obvious that either side of the board .maybensed in pursuing V such studies.

A-pair of scrolls may alsozbe used atone time if comparative studies are undertaken by simply making extra provision-on the frame to receive thesame above the regulation scroll. .If the compartment spacebelow the usual scroll was also used for scroll pur posesthree setscould be referredto simultaneously and .notes!etc.,:made onthe board in open position beneath the scrolls.

The frame which encloses compartments also forms a support forthe scrolls, and the detachable pivoted reversible board. It has side members '1 that :are heldapart by the transverse members 2 above and below the scroll space, 4 at the "bottom, and short ones 44 and 45 to form compartments forgpen'cils, pads, booklets, etc. A backing cross bar 3 is placed at the top-in which a hand hold33 prises a suitableholder, simultaneously sup- 7 hooks 4-8. 7

and requlres no further description. Any

the desk may be attached to a wall or elsewhere by means of screw eyes 4:2 and screw This use in itself is well known suitable cardboard or other material may be placed over the'back of the frame. lt-inay be printed, as a map or otherwise to be referred to more especially when the board projects from this side of the frame.

A one-piece bail 5 passes through the side members 1 and spring clips 13 from side to side. It has two bent up arms 6 the free ends of which are bent at 7 to form pivots that enter holes 8 formed in the side bars 9 of the black board 10. This bail holds the pivot holes of the board parallel to the frame in all positions. The board 10 is held closed by spring clips 13 placed on each of the side members 1. These snub into grooves 12 formed on the inside-faces. of the side strips 9 adjacent each face of the board. 'The strips also have groove 11', formed between the grooves 12 in which the edges of'the board 10 aresecured in any desired manner.

In order that the board and frame will be positively held" when in an open relation to each other a series of flattened grooved pins 14: are secured at the four corners of the board. If found desirable only two may be used in case it is to be locked. at one side only. The pins ll are flattened as shown in Fig. .14 so as to give. a slight spring effect. The outer end'of each pin is roundedand just back of this end a. shallow groove is formed which snubs into the opening of a catch 15. There are two openings in each catch so that. the same pins will. serve to lock the board adjacent either the front or back of the frame. abutting notches or faces 16 areformed on the lower edge of the frame against which the front or rear edges of the board may rest when in an open position. It is immaterial what specific means are employed to lock the board and frame to each other. In the instance shown the board is released by simply pressing sidewise on the ends of pins 14. Whatever expedient is.

used it is desirable that the locking be done automatically the moment an edge of the board 10 engages either one ofthe abutting faces 16.

All the previously described details are susceptible to a multitude of variations without departing from the board underlying principle of the invention which comporting one or more removable scrolls and a reversible board pivoted to the holder in such a location that a detachable scroll is found above the open position of the board.

Scrolls as heretofore made comprise per manent rollers 18 to which the ends of a scroll '26 are glued or otherwise fastened. Heads 23 serve to hold the scroll against extreme lateral shifting whilebeing Wound on either the upper or lower roller .18. Knobs 24c have their stems inserted into the ends of the rollers. These stems at 25 form the bottom of .a'groove by which the side members 1 support the rollers against end wise displacement. Suitable tension springs 28 resting on the knob hubs prevent the scrolls unwinding too fast.

The scrolls may be made detachable in various ways among many'equivalent constructions several expedients' are shown in the drawings. In Fig. 1 two permanent rollers 18 are shown in their usual position. In addition a supplementary roller 20 rests with its grooves 25 received in notches 21 formed in the forward edges of side members 1. Springs 22 press against the bottoms of grooves 25 to apply a slight tension and also admit of the easy removal of the roller and its quick return when needed. lVith this exempliiication the upper transversebar 2 maybe replaced by a narrower one 17 shown in Fig. 1 so that after completing the study of a given scroll it will be found wound up on the upper roller 18 from which is must be wound onto the auxiliary roller 20 by going direct without interference with the narrow bar 17 or it must be re-rolled onto the lower roller and then onto the filing roller 20 as shown on Fig. 4 in which both alternatives are shown in dotted lines.

The procedure is shown. in Figs. 2, 3 and 4-. In Fig. 2 the rear end of the scroll is started in slot 19 of the bottom roller. In Fig. 3 it has been transferred to this roller and the front end is inserted into slot 19 of the upper roller ready for use.

When one of the otherwise permanent. up

per rollers is made removable the adaptation shown in Fig. 5 may be used in which slots 29 are formed in side members 1 and tension springs 28 employed tofkeep the'roller in place by resting against the smaller diameter of the knobs 2 1. The bottom roller may be held against too free rotation by a similar spring coacting with one or both roller ends.

In case the detached scrolls are to be easily inspected when of? from the side members 1 it may be readily accomplished by permanentlyor otherwise mounting them in a separateframe 30 shown in Fig. 9 in which event an entire scroll with its rollers and supporting frame becomes a unit that may be laid on chair or table or even held in the hand while the scroll is shifted to and fro for casual inspection without being put onto the desk at all. If a casual inspection shows the scroll to be the desired one or its index number or title indicates the same thing it is taken bodily from its carton or filing case and placed in the'desk as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Slots 31 formed in the side bars 1 permit grooved portions of the knobs to pass to their operating position. The rollers may be kept against too free rotation while in frame in any way desired by spring tension etc., well known and not shown. In addition springs 28 may perform this function and also hold the frame 30 in place or separate retaining springs 32 shown in Fig. 6 may be used to hold the frame in position. Even if the separate scroll frame 30 is used it may be combined with an auxiliary roller 20 as used on Fig. 1 or a separate scroll as insired combination with each other.

If the rollers are to be made removable independently of the knobs a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 12 may be used. In this a roller 34 slotted or solid has heads 23, end holes and shallow slots 35. Pins 36 enter the holes and short pins 37 pass into slots so as to cause the roller 34 to turn with the pin 36. About midway of its length pin 36 is enlarged at 38 to form r a guide portion and abutting shoulder for coil spring 40. The pin 36 and its enlarged part 38 have bearing in the housing 39 se cured to the side members 1 or frame 30. Knobs 11 are pinned or otherwise secured to the stems 36. To release a roller the knobs 41 are pulled endwise against the tension of spring 40. If both rollers are formed in this way one of them may form the scroll support when it is filed in the carton. The scroll ends are beveled as at 27 Fig. 7 which with a corresponding bevel of slots 19 serves to quickly center them thereon with respect to the roller heads when they are wound onto another roller. Heretofore it has been the practice to print scrolls of this general shown at 46 on Fig. 15. This doubles the capacity of a single scroll and eliminates one of the serious shortcomings of scrolls in which the rollers are permanently attached to the scroll ends.

The use of slots 19 for the scroll ends is only suggestive of one of numerous expedients that may be employed for this purpose and is not to be construed as a limitation in any sense whatsoever.

lVh-at I claim is,

1. In portable desks, a suitable frame having a plurality of notches formed in the sides thereof to accommodate roller extensions and having a scroll compartment near one end, a removable scroll carrying unit comprising top, bottom and end members,

scroll rollers in said unit having a scroll mounted thereon, roller extensions terminating in knobs projecting outside the holder and beyond the edges of the frame, enlargements on such extensions for turning the rollers, a board pivoted to the frame adapted to cover the scroll unit to protect the same, elastic means for holding the scroll unit in position in the frame, and separate means for holding the board in closed position. I

2. In portable desks, a suitable scroll carrying frame, a pair of scroll rollersrotatable in the frame, a detachable scroll carried by the rollers, a pivoted reversible board for covering the scroll, side arms attached to the board, knoblike spring projections extending from the ends of the side arms. and brackets secured to the lower end of the sides of the frame adapted to cooperate with the side arm projections to auto.

matically hold the board in position on the frame against accidental displacement when the board is in an open position.

3. In portable desks, a suitable frame, a detachably reversible board pivoted to the frame, side arms attached to the board, spring extensions from the ends of the side arms, and cooperating catches on the frame adapted to automatically lock the board to the frame against vertical and horizontal movement while the board is in an open position.

In. testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEWIS E. MYERS. 

